New York Racing Regulators Reinstate Corticosteroid Rules

The rule requires the previous trainer to provide details on corticosteroid injections that occurred within 30 days prior to the claiming race.

Photo: The Horse Staff

Regulators in New York Sept. 9 re-issued an expired rule requiring the previous trainer of a claimed horse to provide the new owner with all records regarding corticosteroid joint injections within 48 hours of the claiming racing being official.

The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSCG) approved the rule, which requires the previous trainer to provide details on the corticosteroid injections that occurred within 30 days prior to the claiming race. The rule, originally recommended by the New York Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety, had been in effect on an emergency basis between Dec. 12, 2012, and March 10, when it expired.

According to a briefing document for the Sept. 9 meeting, the rule was permitted to lapse while "trainers adapted to another emergency rule, which required them to submit a record of every corticosteroid joint injection to the commission within 48 hours of injection."

The commission's staff, the document said, made inquiries about the claiming-race proposed rule but they received no comments in favor or opposition. The rule was among several major changes to come out of the high number of equine deaths at New York's Aqueduct Racetrack during the fall and winter meet of 2011-12.

NYSGC member John Poklemba said the rule "will allow the new owner to make more fully informed decisions about veterinary care."

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